The pharaoh is the iconic ruler from the ancient world, immortalized in stoneand gold and celebrated today in countless films and books. But how did thesemonarchs—mortals who lived and died like anyone else—spend their days? Howdid they become pharaoh? How did they govern and how were they entertained?In this vividly written and authoritative account, Garry Shaw conveys the fullexperience of what it was like to be pharaoh, from birth to death, in private andin public, at court and on campaign, and shows how a uniquely Egyptian visionof kingship, with its complex ideology and regalia, evolved. We follow dailyevents, from waking up in the palace to evenings spent banqueting; in between,the king acted as lawmaker, judge, and priest. The most important ceremoniesare compellingly described, including accession, coronation, and the royal funeral,as well as the pomp and protocol of an audience before the monarch.Supplemented by numerous box features, from the internal decoration ofpyramids and the women who became pharaoh to pharaonic pets, as well asquotations from contemporary sources and a king list with brief biographiesof all the major pharaohs, this beautifully illustrated volume provides a comprehensiveinsight into the Egyptian pharaoh and his world.